Not guilty pleas were entered Sept. 18 for an Oconto man charged in connection with the 2023 car-motorcycle crash that claimed the life of his girlfriend.
Austin Scott Laakonen, 22, is charged with homicide by operating a motor vehicle under the influence of a controlled substance, homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle and a misdemeanor count of possession of THC, for the June 30, 2023, accident that killed Aubrey Williams, 19, also of Oconto. He also was ticketed for carrying a passenger in violation of his probationary motorcycle permit.
After a preliminary hearing, during which Oconto County Judge Michael Judge bound Laakonen over for trial, defense attorney Jonas Bednarek said his client was standing mute. Judge entered not guilty pleas on his behalf and scheduled a pre-trial conference for Dec. 10.
According to the Oconto County Sheriff’s Department traffic report, the crash occurred at 7:11 p.m. on U.S. Highway 41 just south of the intersection with County Road W in the Town of Little River. Williams died just after 8 p.m. at Bellin Health Oconto Hospital, the report said.
Investigator Troy Sherman testified that Laakonen was northbound, merging into the left lane to negotiate a left turn onto County Road W, when the left side of the motorcycle struck the right side of the Kia Sportage driven by Luis A. Soto of Volo, Illinois.
“(Soto) stated that he was northbound to Marquette to go see his girlfriend, had his cruise control set at 75 mph,” Sherman said. “At the point just prior to the impact, he, on the passenger side window, observed the motorcycle start coming over merging into his lane. As he did, he stated he applied the brakes and tried to slow down, but the motorcycle clipped the front of his Kia.”
As is standard in fatal crashes, blood draws were taken from both drivers, and both showed no alcohol in their systems. However, Laakonen’s results detected the presence of Delta-9-THC, Sherman said.
An Oconto police officer found a black bag with Williams’ license inside, along with a small container he believed to be dab wax, a THC product. Sherman said Laakonen told the officer the THC was his.
On cross-examination, Bednarek indicated there is evidence that Soto was coming up from behind at a faster clip that he admitted.
“Are you aware that the SUV that was following the motorcycle — not the Kia, but another SUV — attempted to merge into the left-hand lane but had to swerve back because the Kia was coming at such a high rate of speed?” Bednarek said.
“That is correct,” said Sherman.
Bednarek had previously filed an affidavit from a defense investigator with statements said to be from four witnesses who suggested Soto was speeding at closer to 80-85 mph.
Sherman acknowledged under cross-examination that Laakonen originally was not very forthcoming at the scene.
“He gave a one-sentence written statement — provided a version but not a great-detail version, I would say — and said, ‘That’s all you’re going to get from me,’” he said
In advance of the pre-trial conference scheduled for 1 p.m. Dec. 10, Judge ordered prosecutors to submit discovery by Nov. 1 and defense by Dec. 1, with any pre-trial motions filed by Dec. 3.
wbluhm@newmedia-wi.com
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